Hooked Up: Beware of hooks when walking pets in public fishing areas

I had a good idea of what I wanted to write about this week and then I went to Grand Haven Thursday. As I walked across the state park beach I noticed a strange looking object sticking up out of the sand. I stopped and pulled it up and out of the soft sand and there it was: a 6- to 8-inch rubber squid looking fishing lure with several treble hooks protruding from the body.

I had a good idea of what I wanted to write about this week and then I went to Grand Haven Thursday. As I walked across the state park beach I noticed a strange looking object sticking up out of the sand. I stopped and pulled it up and out of the soft sand and there it was: a 6- to 8-inch rubber squid looking fishing lure with several treble hooks protruding from the body.

This is a hazard for anyone on the beach – man, woman or child, however, it is also very dangerous to pets such as dogs. I have witnessed firsthand the tragedy of a dog becoming "hooked" in the foot from a sloppily discarded fishing rig. I have also helped to free a Rapala from a Golden Retriever's mouth after it bit on what it thought to be a shiny toy near the water's edge.

I preach time and time again about the dangers of walking pets in known fishing areas. Let's face it, some fishermen are lazy, thoughtless folk who discard used or damaged fish hooks, line and even lures on the bank. These cause very dangerous hazards to all wildlife and must not be taken lightly.

Birds and small animals can become entangled in discarded fishing line and can be killed if entangled to severely. Animals such as raccoons and fowl such as geese often grab what appears to be a shiny fish or minnow only to be lanced by the hook of a discarded fishing lure. This not only causes tremendous pain to the animal, it can lead to death.This being said, what about the dangers in areas not known to be fishing hot spots?

The beach at Grand Haven, like others of its kind, see occasional fishermen. The inherent problem, in these areas, lies from those fishing from the piers and from boats. Lost and improperly discarded hooks and lures wash up on shore in areas that are frequented by non-fishermen. This includes people walking pets along the shore.

This is not only a problem along the great lake's shorelines and beaches. This problem is even more prevalent along rivers and park ponds. While fishing along the Grand River in Grand Rapids this spring, I must have counted and picked up no less than 50 discarded hooks from the concrete walking path. Hooks that were carelessly thrown down on the ground could have made their way into an unsuspecting dog's paw. When the dog licked the injured foot, the hook can embed into the animal's mouth and/or tongue.

One point I would like to drive home here is seen in the fact that the fishing lure I found in the middle of a state park beach is what I believe to be a washed up lure. I think it plausible that this lure was washed onto the shore from the action of the lake and was not a dropped or discarded lure on the public beach. These things can be found everywhere.

Page 2 of 2 - Please use caution when recreating at or near a known fishery. Be observant of your area and help to prevent an avoidable injury. When walking pets, take care to stop them from munching on things that are in the weeds, brush or out of plain sight in general. Believe me when I tell you removing a hook from a dog's mouth is not an easy task and often results in severely bitten fingers and hands.

Enjoy this first holiday weekend of summer 2013 and spend some time doing what you love to do whether it be fishing, exploring the outdoors or just relaxing on a hammock.

I hope we all have sunshine and fair weather all weekend.For those of you wanting a bit more excitement out of your holiday weekend, there will be some thrilling racing events at most of the local racetracks. There's racing action Friday night at Mid-Michigan Raceway Park in Palo and Crystal Raceway and I-96 Raceway this weekend.

This weekend will be the opening event for Mid-Michigan Raceway Park's 2013 season. The owner/promoter assures me the track will be in the best condition possible and should be very fast.Remember to properly feed/water any pets left alone over the holiday and use extra care when walking and playing with pets in camping areas.

If you are fishing, please use care to take all trash, discarded hooks and lead weight home with you. This rubbish is best placed in a closed waste receptacle. It only takes a couple of seconds and who knows, the pet/animal you save and protect could be yours.

Remember that beyond the fishing, racing and barbecues, this holiday weekend is intended to honor and remember fallen servicemen and women who have paid the highest price for our freedoms in battle. For every family celebrating this weekend, there will be those remembering lost family members, friends and loved ones. Remember to thank a veteran if you come across one and remember, it's a great outdoors.

Jim Kilcherman is an avid outdoorsman and a veteran of the armed services who, this weekend, will be remembering the supreme sacrifices that so many have made in the name of freedom. I thank all of you reading this who have served and especially thank those readers who have lost a loved one in battle.

Write me at jimkilchermann@yahoo.com and share a tale or two. I love reading your letters, too. Until next time, stay out of the snags and keep all of your shots in the ten ring.